These adorable Nutter Butter turkeys are an easy way to add some fun to your Thanksgiving celebration. Made with just a few simple decorations, they’re cute, easy to make, and guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
Cute Turkey Nutter Butter Cookies
This no-bake recipe is such a favorite of mine because it’s quick, easy, and always a hit at Thanksgiving. It’s fun to make, especially with kids who can get creative with the decorations! Last Thanksgiving, I made these with my nieces and nephews, and they had a blast putting the little turkeys together.
We placed one at each place setting, adding a festive, playful touch to the table. We had 12 people for Thanksgiving dinner last year, so this recipe is portioned for a dozen turkeys, but you can easily make more or fewer, depending on your gathering size.
If turkeys aren’t your thing, but you love the idea of adding an edible, fun treat to your Thanksgiving table, check out my Pilgrim hat cookies and no-bake acorn cookies.
Simple Ingredients
- Nutter Butter cookies – These peanut-shaped cookies form the turkey body and are easy to decorate.
- Round peanut butter sandwich cookies – Used as the base to attach candy corn tails. I used Great Value Walmart ones.
- White chocolate chips – Melted to hold all the decorations in place.
- Candy corn – Adds colorful tail feathers and a hint of sweetness.
- Edible candy eyes – Gives the turkeys their expressive look.
- Orange or yellow M&Ms – Used for the turkey beak.
- Mini red M&Ms – Perfect for the turkey’s wattle.
Making the easy turkey cookies
- Prepare the cookies – Start by twisting the round peanut butter cookies to separate them so you have two pieces per cookie. Arrange the cookie halves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Melt the chocolate – Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 15-second increments in the microwave, stirring between each interval until smooth.
- Attach the turkey feathers – Dip the white ends of 6 pieces of candy corn into the melted chocolate. Press them onto one half of a round cookie, fanning them out to create the tail.
- Attach the body – Place a dollop of white chocolate on the top back side of a Nutter Butter cookie. Press it onto the center of the round cookie with the candy corn tail and hold for a few seconds to secure. Return it to the baking sheet to set.
- Add the turkey face – Using a small dab of melted chocolate, attach two candy eyeballs near the top of the Nutter Butter cookie. Place an orange or yellow M&M below the eyes, cut side down, for the beak, and a mini red M&M, cut side down, beside it as the wattle.
- Let set and serve – Allow the turkeys to sit until the chocolate fully hardens, about 15–20 minutes. Once set, they’re ready to be placed at each place setting or added to your Thanksgiving dessert spread!
Variations and substitutions
Cookie base – Round peanut butter cookies are ideal for the base, but if you can’t find them, Golden Oreos make a great alternative. Chocolate Oreo cookies can work in a pinch, though they’ll be more noticeable due to their color.
Turkey body – Nutter Butter cookies are the classic choice for the turkey body, but Milano cookies or even wafer cookies can also work as a substitute. Each provides a sturdy, easy-to-decorate shape.
Glue alternative – White candy melts, chocolate chips, or even peanut butter are good alternatives to white chocolate chips. You can use frosting in a pinch, though it doesn’t harden as firmly as chocolate and may need more careful handling.
Tail feathers – Instead of candy corn feathers, try using rows of orange, yellow, and brown M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces for a different look, like those in my cute turkey cupcakes.
Beak – Reese’s Pieces or Skittles can be used for the beak instead of M&Ms. You can also pipe a beak with orange or yellow candy melts if you prefer.
Wattle – For the wattle, you can use a dab of red icing or melted red candy melts instead of the M&M.
Tips for Success
- Prep all ingredients first – Have your candies, cookies, and melted chocolate ready before assembling. This keeps the process smooth and prevents the chocolate glue from rehardening in the bowl.
- Use a piping bag or toothpick for precision – When attaching small items like the eyes and beak, use a piping bag, a small Ziploc bag with the tip cut off, or a toothpick to add a small amount of chocolate for more control.
- Use a sharp, straight-blade knife for M&Ms – When cutting M&Ms for the beak and wattle, use a sharp knife and a single downward motion. Avoid a sawing motion, as it can crack or crumble the candy.
- Hold pieces in place briefly – When attaching the Nutter Butter body and decorations, hold each piece for a few seconds to let the chocolate set enough to hold.
- Do not refrigerate – Avoid refrigerating the turkeys, as candy eyes can bleed, and the M&Ms may develop a cloudy appearance.
- Allow full setting time – Give the turkeys about 15–20 minutes to let the chocolate harden completely before moving or serving them. This will ensure they’re sturdy and decorations stay in place.
How to store the turkeys
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Do not refrigerate.
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Cute Nutter Butter Turkeys
Ingredients
- 12 Nutter Butter cookies
- 6 round peanut butter sandwich cookies
- 72 pieces of candy corn
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips or candy melts
- 24 edible candy eyes
- 6 orange or yellow M&Ms cut in half
- 6 mini red M&Ms cut in half
Instructions
- Start by separating the round peanut butter cookies into halves. Arrange the cookie halves on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring between each interval until smooth.
- To create the tail, dip the white ends of 6 candy corn pieces into the melted chocolate, then press them onto one half of a round cookie, fanning them out to form the tail. Repeat with each base and set aside to let the chocolate harden.
- Place a dollop of melted white chocolate on the top back side of a Nutter Butter cookie, then press it onto the center of the round cookie with the candy corn tail. Hold it for a few seconds to secure, then return it to the baking sheet to set.
- Using a small dab of melted chocolate, attach two candy eyes near the top of the Nutter Butter cookie. Below the eyes, place an orange or yellow M&M, cut side down, for the beak, and a mini red M&M, cut side down, beside it for the wattle.
- Allow the turkeys to sit at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes, until the chocolate fully hardens.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Do not refrigerate.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.